Welcoming, Accommodating & Adaptable
Open Run INC. will be our slice of heaven in the inner city.
Our Story
After seeing a deepening void of opportunities for youth athletic development and health in his community, Calvin Belfon was inspired to establish Open Run INC.
Calvin fell in love with sports as a young man and remains an avid athlete. Being from the inner city, he realized growing up that there were no shortages of people willing to play sports. Where they’d play, however, was another matter. Local facilities could be expensive or restricted access, so sneaking in to lift weights, train and play basketball was a common occurrence.
Calvin knows first-hand the benefits that sports and physical exercise can have in a person’s life. You can increase self-esteem and teach valuable life lessons. You learn how to build and grow healthy relationships, even with people you wouldn’t usually hang with outside of sports. You learn how to inspire others and become a leader in your own way. You learn how to deal with failure, how to lose with dignity, but never give up. Accountability, sacrifice, and time management become part of your daily practice.
Regardless of the obstacles, Calvin’s hard work and dedication paid off. He became a Division I athlete and eventually trained at a combine facility where the highest-level athletes perform. Continuing his journey, he deepened his knowledge of sports and exercise, but the inequities he experienced growing up became all the more apparent.
Talking to his teammates and using state-of-the-art facilities only drove home the undeniable truth that his community was in need. He told himself that when the time came, he would dedicate his life to giving back, provide something he needed as a kid, but never had. He’d create the greatest programs and sporting facilities in his community.
Lack of access to safe, well-maintained recreational indoor and outdoor facilities or active transportation opportunities have a role in lower exercise levels in Black and Latino adults.
preparation and opportunity for the inner city youth.
Lack of access to safe, well-maintained recreational indoor and outdoor facilities or active transportation opportunities have a role in lower exercise levels in Black and Latino adults.
